May 2012 News

Bulk billing rates are at a record high, according to the federal government - with $4.3 billion was paid out in the March quarter.

Health minister Tanya Plibersek revealed today (May 24) that 81.2 per cent of GP services were bulk billed in the three-month period, with records being set for pathology, diagnostic imaging, and radiation therapy.

The percentage of all bulk billing services combined also set a record at 76.5 per cent.

According to Ms Plibersek, Medicare rebates were up by 9.8 per cent compared to the previous year.

While single parent families in Australia are already faced with many financial challenges, they can expect a small amount of relief when the federal government begins to means test the 30 per cent private health insurance (PHI) rebate in the coming months.

Australian office workers are being urged to sit less and move more as part of an annual health initiative.

Today (May 21) marks the start of the Chiropractors’ Association of Australia's Spinal Health Week, with this year focusing on posture in the workplace.

A new study released by the health body as part of its 2012 campaign has revealed that more than half of office workers around the country failing to take breaks to stand and move around - despite sitting for almost 16 hours a day.

The head of one of Australia's leading health bodies has criticised the federal government for failing to address the increasing issue of diabetes.

Chief executive of Diabetes Australia Lewis Kaplan believes that the desire to return a budget surplus has overshadowed the importance of providing assistance to the 1.7 million diabetes sufferers around the country.

"It's not good for the nation's health to not focus very much more strongly on the diabetes pandemic because it's going to send the system broke," he told AAP sources on May 14.